ROCHESTER, Minn. — Med City FC named Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine as its title sponsor ahead of its inaugural NPSL campaign, and also unveiled a local soccer talent as its first signing this past Wednesday.
Mayo’s involvement was described as a huge off-field win. The sports medicine arm of the health care giant has experience with soccer, providing sports performance training to the German national team before its victorious 2014 World Cup.
“We feel like it gives us so many great opportunities to work with a great athletic training program and a world-class performance training program,” Med City general manager Frank Spaeth said. “It’s going to offer the players that come here to play some things and some experiences that they’re just not going to be able to get… at this level.”
The sponsorship will see Med City enjoy athletic training services, coverage, and support at all of its home games. Plus, athletes will have access to performance, nutrition, and sport psychology services.
As for building its roster, Midhat Mujic becomes the first signing for the NPSL club. The Bosnian native has lived in Rochester since 2001, playing soccer at Mayo High School before moving on to play at Hamline University and Saint Mary’s University (in Winona, Minn.). He then trialed for professional teams in Finland and Sweden before playing in the NPSL in Missouri in 2015, and playing for Minnesota United’s reserve team in the Premier League of America last year.
“He’ll be one of the premier players not only on our team, but in the league,” Med City FC coach Luke Corey said.
Mujic is just glad to have the hometown opportunity.
“Growing up in Bosnia, we didn’t have many things,” he said. “Once I moved here and once I met the coaches, they put me on the right path to get where I wanted to be. It’s always been a dream of mine.. To play for Rochester, for a place I’ve grown up [in].”
Corey said that while he isn’t looking for anything specific during tryouts, he is hoping to build a team employing possession tactics.
“I believe that possession can generate scoring opportunities and good attacking opportunities,” the head coach said.
Corey also explained that he is drawing inspiration from a number of places, including Minneapolis City SC, MLS clubs, and even European teams.
Of the nearly 75 players at the first tryout, about 24 will be invited for a second trial in March.
Med City is aiming to assemble a team of around 26 players.
FiftyFive.One is now on Patreon. Do you like the independent coverage of soccer news from Minnesota and beyond that FiftyFive.One offers? Please consider becoming a patron.
Leave a Reply